Google Nexus One Smartphone

An iPhone clone? Not so fast. This beautiful device (made by HTC) represents the best of smartphone technology. With more irresistible features than you could ever use, the Android operating system also works at lightning speed (thanks to a 1GHz processor), so your capacity for wasting time is curtailed. The 3.7-inch touchscreenslightly bigger than the iPhone's and identical to the Motorola Droid'sseems just right and is a marvel of color and clarity. Touch controls are fast and responsive, and voice commands actually work: You can dictate text messages and Google searches, a boon to road safety once we mastered the technique. It's got the full suite of Google programs, including the addicting Google Maps with GPS and driving directions, as well as the new Goggles, which takes a picture of something then goes looking on the Web for information about it. It's also a media master: The 5MP camera shoots above-average photos and has an LED flash and 720 video. It can access 30,000 Android apps. Basically, it's the perfect toy: One tester's 80-year-old mother borrowed it and wouldn't give it back until the next day. $179 with two-year T-Mobile contract; $529 unlocked (for AT&T or T-Mobile); google.com/phoneFunctions: 4.9 (out of 5)Durability: 3$179